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Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts

1. In our society we give people a lot of credit for quitting bad habits (smoking, drug abuse, overeating) but often fail to recognize those that never picked them up in the first place.

2. I hate giving gifts to people. Let me rephrase that: I hate the process of physically giving gifts to people I don't know well. I have no problem with my husband, mom, siblings, and few close friends, but otherwise it feels so awkward (same exact thing with receiving gifts). This morning I took a gift to the neighbors, who we're friendly with but not friends with, for their new baby and it was just... weird.

3. I'm going to start telling solicitors (that I'm stupid enough to answer the door to) that I rent my home and can't make any decisions regarding solar panels, yard maintenance, or anything else they're trying to get me to do. I get that they're doing their job, but no means no folks.

4. I have this overwhelming urge to read Jaqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls. It seems like the ultimate pool read right now.

5. At school we have to have some sort of "attention getter" to make the kids shut up and get on task. Right now I count down from five, so they can finish their conversation, and they better be silent when I get to one. It works perfectly, but I was also thinking that I could say "stop" and they could respond with "collaborate and listen" (I think I saw this on Pinterest). My main motivation is the look on the principal's face when she observes it for the first time.

6. Bear with me on this one- I really miss cocktail wieners. I eat chicken now, which they are not. And even when I wasn't as cautious about my meat intake they were most definitely not on the frequent foods list. I've just had a strong craving for the little guys for two or three days now (and no I'm not pregnant, so please, ever so kindly, shut your face). Maybe it's the "you always want what you can't have" conundrum. Oh, by the way, I don't suggest texting your husband or significant other with this thought.

7. While reading Zadie Smith's collection Changing My Mind I came across the best quote, in which she writes, "The secret to editing your work is simple: you need to become its reader instead of its writer." I love this- you have to distance yourself from your writing in order to change perspective.

8. Kara, from It's a Dog Lick Baby World, posted this hilarious version of Alanis Morissette's "Ironic" the other day and I just had to repost. I usually share the original version with my students so they can understand what irony isn't. This will make it even better:

9. As someone who is consistently the planner of activities at work, home, and socially it is so very, very nice when people take over once in awhile.

10. I know it's so three years ago (or whatever), but I still never fail to be impressed by Shazam.

2 comments:

You make an interesting point about quitting a bad habit vs. never starting. Although, I can say for me, it has been incredibly easy to not start smoking/drinking/doing drugs. I think they're all gross and dirty and no good. (Well, except for drinking. Drinking is pretty good sometimes. It's the getting drunk part I don't do. Or beer. Blech.)

My mother-in-law has finally (permanently?) quit smoking this year after my brother-in-law died. I know it has been really hard for her. She smoked for so long and has failed to quit (ha!) many times before. His death has been the impetus for big changes in her life. I could not be more proud. In fact, I think she should brag about it more! 6 months no cigs after 25 years of a pack-a-day habit. Maybe we should have a 1 year party to celebrate. Overkill?

I know beating addiction or other bad habits is hard, I do, and everyone has their own story. When thinking about my students I like to reward improvement, but I think it's also important to reward the kids who have been doing the right thing all along.

Aw hell, cupcakes for everyone! Well, except those that have beat obesity. They get apples.